NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescopeThu, 20 Aug 2026 09:20:00 +0000 The Swift observatory will now re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in a few months, after a mission to boost it higher failed | |
AI firms are watermarking generated text – here’s why it won’t workThu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 AI companies have begun embedding watermarks in the output of their models to improve transparency and help crack down on misinformation, disinformation and cheating on homework, but there are limitations to this approach | |
Suggesting that ADHD is a myth is pseudoscientific and dangerousWed, 19 Aug 2026 18:07:49 +0000 ADHD is a real condition that can have serious consequences if undiagnosed. An ill-informed documentary that suggests it is a modern, social construct could cause harm, says Caroline Williams | |
The wild, gripping story of the psychedelic secreted by desert toadsWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Kimon de Greef's The Ego Trip chronicles the rise of a potent psychedelic drug, from the toads that secrete it to the man who claimed it has amazing powers. Olivia Goldhill discovers an extraordinary tale | |
It is finally time to talk about the impact of fluctuating hormonesWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 For decades, women have felt the need to hide the impact of changes in their hormones, while scientists have excluded women from research to avoid hormonal fluctuations complicating their research. Thankfully, this is starting to change | |
This sci-fi novel is a riveting tale of an oppressive galactic empireWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 A rich widow, a disillusioned cop and a dim hypersled driver are caught in the machinations of the oppressive party ruling the Decurion Empire in Richard Swan's The Infinite State. Sci-fi columnist Emily H. Wilson enjoys their struggles | |
Stunning image of a polar bear with an outsized snack wins major awardWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Roie Galitz's breathtaking shot is one of the winners of the 2026 World Press Photo Contest, praised for its unusual perspective and scale | |
Twisteddoodles on distribution graphs (with added cats)Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 This week's cartoon from Twisteddoodles | |
Tom Gauld on popularity in the labWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Tom Gauld's weekly cartoonTom Gauld's weekly cartoon | |
Don’t be an archaeologist in a movie if you want to surviveWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 | |